Original Item: Only One Available. Gorgets hold an interesting place in history, as they are a throw-back to the days of knights, when suits of armor included a neck protection device called a Gorget. They have been used since that time to identify membership or function in various military and police organizations, and Gorgets were thoroughly used during the Third Reich.

This is a very nice example of a German WWII National Socialist State Veteran's Association (NSRKB) Type II Standard (Flag) Bearer's Gorget. These would be worn during parades and other political activities by the person bearing the NSRKB flag, which was quite a place of honor, hearkening back to earlier days, where the flag had more value than life.

The gorget is constructed of aluminum alloy with brass adornments, and the entire gorget is non-magnetic. It is shaped much like a Feldgendarmerie gorget, not the "heart shape" we have seen with other standard bearer gorgets, and measures about 6 1/2” across and 4 1/4” high. The silver-colored front is emblazoned with a brass device that features detailed representations of Imperial military standards as well as Third Reich era veterans flags. At the center of this device is a separately applied enameled emblem, with the NSDAP swas inside an Iron Cross, the symbol of the NSRKB used on Type II gorgets. The black and translucent red enamel on the organizational emblem are in very good shape with some lovely age checking, and the brass borders show a lovely patina. The Type I gorget had the alternate emblem, showing the Kyffhäuser Monument over the NSDAP swas.

The gorget is complete with its original chain, which is complete and full length. The chain links alternate between Iron Cross and swas emblems, and show light wear to the gilding. The reverse of this gorget is complete with its original black felt style backing, which shows wear and some mothing, but is still well attached to the gorget. The chain is retained by 2 sheet metal clips, one of which is neatly marked with the number 3, presumably a manufacturer code.

A lovely piece, loaded with eye appeal and ready to display!

The Kyffhäuserbund (English: Kyffhäuser League) is an umbrella organization for war veterans' and reservists' associations in Germany, founded in 1900 to unify the various veteran's groups in Germany. It owes its name to the Kyffhäuser Monument (German: Kyffhäuserdenkmal), a memorial built on the summit of the 473 m high Kyffhäuser mountain near Bad Frankenhausen, in the state of Thuringia in central Germany. It was not a political affiliated organization, and was open to all German war veterans.

When the National Socialist party came into party however, as with all national organizations, the group was absorbed under the NSDAP umbrella. In the name of Gleichschaltung (Co-Ordination or NSDAPfication), the Kyffhäuserbund was after the NSDAP takeover of power in 1933. Five years later, its name was altered to NS-Reichskriegerbund ‘Kyffhäuser’ e.V. (National Socialist Reich Warriors Association ‘Kyffhäuser‘ - RSRKB), becoming the sole and exclusive organization representing the Veterans´ interests in the Third Reich. The organization would then be disbanded in March of 1943 and its members would be drafted into Volksturm service in 1945, as the fall of WWII Germany approached.

The emblem of the group, which previously was a white shield showing the Kyffhäuser Monument over the National Tri-Color, was changed to having the NSDAP Swas (hook cross) flag on the bottom. Another emblem used had an Iron Cross with the Kyffhäuser monument in a circle in the center, which was then replaced with the NSDAP Swas.